Honda Taps Team Raceco Honda for Official Talon 1000R AORRC Desert Racing Program Ahead of Mint 400

Honda is officially stepping into the new American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORRC) with a familiar name in the Talon world, announcing that Team Raceco Honda will manage the manufacturer’s official side-by-side desert racing effort for the remainder of the 2026 season. The program debuts this weekend at the legendary Mint 400 in Las Vegas. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

The announcement marks a major move for Honda in the desert racing scene, especially as the newly formed AORRC brings together Unlimited Off-Road Racing and Best in the Desert under one banner. According to the release, the new championship is being positioned as “North America’s premier desert-racing league.” 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

For Honda fans and Talon owners, this is the kind of news that hits home: a factory-backed effort, a proven team, and a high-profile racing debut at one of the biggest off-road events in the country.

Raceco Honda Returns to the Spotlight — This Time in the Desert

Team Raceco Honda is owned by off-road veteran Jamie Campbell, and the name should already be familiar to many Honda Talon enthusiasts. Raceco-USA has built a reputation around its aftermarket Talon components and top-level fabrication services, making it one of the more recognizable names connected to Honda’s side-by-side performance scene. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

This isn’t the team’s first run as part of Honda’s official racing efforts, either.

In recent years, Team Raceco Honda managed Honda’s official short-course project and competed for two seasons in the Championship Off-Road Pro Stock class, earning a notable win at the prestigious Crandon, Wisconsin round in 2023. That background gives the team a strong foundation as it transitions back to desert racing for this new program. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

Now, with AORRC’s inaugural season underway, Raceco Honda is heading back to its roots.

Campbell made it clear in the release that this opportunity is personal:

“I bleed Honda Red!… Desert racing has always been my biggest passion, so with this new program, I’m excited to get back to my roots.” 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

Talon 1000R to Compete in AORRC UTV Pro Class

For the 2026 AORRC campaign, Team Raceco Honda will run in the series’ top side-by-side category, the UTV Pro division, with a Honda Talon 1000R equipped with a Jackson Racing turbo. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

That setup puts Honda squarely in the mix in one of the most competitive classes in desert racing, where speed, reliability, and race strategy all matter — especially in long-format events where attrition is always part of the story.

And Honda isn’t easing into the season with a low-profile lineup.

For this year’s Mint 400, the Talon will be driven by a star-studded pairing:

• Ricky Brabec, two-time Dakar Rally motorcycle winner
• Ricky Torres, two-time SCORE Pro UTV NA Champion

Co-driver duties will be handled by Madison Ebberts and Chris Arreaza. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

That combination alone makes this one of the more interesting UTV Pro entries to watch this weekend.

Honda also noted that additional drivers may appear in later rounds of the season, which adds another layer of intrigue to how this program develops as the year goes on. The remaining AORRC races on the schedule include the Silver State 300, Vegas to Reno, and the Laughlin Desert Challenge (with the Parker 400 already completed). 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

Why This Matters for Honda and the Talon Community

Honda has long used racing as a proving ground, and the company emphasized that off-road competition remains an important showcase for the durability and performance of its powersports products. In the announcement, Brandon Wilson, Honda’s Manager of Racing & Advertising, highlighted both the brand’s racing legacy and Raceco Honda’s depth of knowledge on the Talon platform. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

That pairing — factory support plus platform-specific expertise — could be a strong formula in the AORRC UTV Pro class.

For Honda Talon owners, this program is also more than just race-day headlines. Factory-backed competition efforts often influence product perception, aftermarket interest, and long-term enthusiasm around a platform. When a Talon is out there battling in premier desert racing, it reinforces what many owners already believe about the machine’s capability and toughness.

And with Raceco’s deep involvement in Talon fabrication and aftermarket development, fans will be paying close attention to how the team’s race setup performs across the season.

Honda Also Fields JCR Honda at the Mint 400

Honda’s presence at the Mint 400 won’t be limited to the Talon effort.

The release also notes that JCR Honda, owned by 11-time Baja 1000 winner Johnny Campbell (Jamie Campbell’s brother), will race in the Motorcycle class with Preston Campbell and Nolan Cate aboard a CRF450X. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

That gives Honda a broader footprint at the event and adds even more family legacy to the weekend’s storylines.

Mint 400 Weekend Details

Honda said the Mint 400 racing action for the team takes place on Friday, with qualifying on Thursday, and that live timing, tracking, and streaming begins Friday at 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET. The release also directs fans to Team Raceco Honda and JCR Honda on Instagram for updates. 26 Raceco USA Honda.v5

For SXS fans, this is one of those race weekends worth watching closely — not just because it’s the Mint 400, but because it marks the launch of Honda’s official Talon effort in a newly unified desert championship.

If Team Raceco Honda comes out swinging in UTV Pro, the rest of the 2026 AORRC season could get very interesting in a hurry.